Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

The rise and fall of Ann Kao

Taipei Times Editorial

Aside from the presidential candidates, Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) has been the name on everyone’s lips.

Kao, a member of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has been engulfed in a slew of controversies, including allegations of living in a NT$50 million-plus (US$1.57 million) apartment and traveling in luxury vehicles, courtesy of property developers, raising questions about potential conflicts of interests.

While Kao was in Japan, Hsinchu Deputy Mayor Tsai Li-ching (蔡麗清) was suddenly “asked to resign,” which raised eyebrows as deputy mayors handle municipal affairs when mayors are abroad.

Countering CCP election meddling

Taipei Times Editorial

There are few certainties in life, but when the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies a report about some nefarious behavior conducted on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), there is almost certainly truth to the alleged behavior.

When ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) described reports of the arrest in March of a British parliamentary researcher for having spied for Beijing as “completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander,” that justified the UK’s Conservative Party taking a closer look at how it engages with the CCP.

Inoculation against poll interference

Taipei Times Editorial

The WHO’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) and the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool on Aug. 29 announced a licensing agreement with Taiwan’s Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp to make the company’s COVID-19 vaccine accessible worldwide to people in need.

This is the first time a Taiwanese vaccine manufacturer has used the WHO patent access model to offer its know-how for a COVID-19 vaccine to the world. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his gratitude to Medigen for sharing its patent to support countries in fighting the disease.

Expats crucial to countering China

Taipei Times Editorial

The battle for public opinion begins long before any shot is fired. Governments worldwide are well aware of this, and none more so than authoritarian regimes like China and Russia, who dwell in fear of a discontent populace. Having perfected their propaganda techniques internally, global ambitions have led them to launch influence campaigns against their rivals.

For those far away, the attempts seem laughable. US voters are likely familiar with stilted English and awkward memes vaulted their way by Russia in the past few election cycles, concerning in their number but easily spotted.

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